Contrary to popular belief, having a friend with benefits may not be all it’s cracked up to be.

According to the New York Times, a Michigan State study released earlier this year found that these booty call relationships only appear to offer less stress. Sure, you get more action than the casual fling, but you still have to deal with the same fears often experienced by those in “real” romantic relationships, like the fear of unreciprocated affection.

Worse yet, the open communication once cherished by two buddies, now FWBs, breaks down. Any talk beyond the titillating becomes taboo, with lovers often afraid or unable to talk about the relationship itself.

Suddenly, bearing the scarlet letter of a one-night stand doesn’t sound so bad, especially if “doing it without drama” has been your mantra as of late. Turns out that, despite the conveniences of FWBs, temporary sexual gratification comes at a price — the chance at real romance.

The Michigan State study found that friends with benefit relationships often reach the point where one friend starts to develop feelings for the other, but only one-tenth of these arrangements actually end in a full-scale romance and unreciprocated feelings can lead to the demise of the friendship.

As many as one in four FWB arrangements ultimately result in friendless and sexless situations, researchers said. The findings indicate that putting out for a pal ultimately can become anything but passion-inducing.